While BV can produce symptoms, some women with BV have no symptoms at all. Some studies have tied bacterial vaginosis to both first- and second-trimester miscarriage, as well as higher risk of preterm delivery. However, researchers are still examining how BV relates to miscarriage. Your gynecologist can test you for BV during your pelvic exam by taking a swab and testing it for the presence of bacteria. If you have BV, a vaginal cream-based antibiotic can help clear up any infection you may have. Researchers have found evidence that chlamydia might increase miscarriage as the bacteria can alter your immune response against an early pregnancy. Symptoms of chlamydia can include discharge, itching, vaginal pain, rectal pain, and discharge and pain during sex and urination. Many women with chlamydia won’t experience any symptoms. If you have chlamydia or PID, you will need to be treated with antibiotics. PID requires a slightly longer antibiotic treatment than chlamydia does. Your doctor can diagnose chlamydia by testing a swab taken from a pelvic exam or with a blood test. If you have chlamydia which was untreated for a long period of time and your doctor suspects PID, they may do an ultrasound to look for signs of chronic or more severe inflammation.
